Paper collector for printer

ABSTRACT

A paper collector receives papers printed by a printer. The paper collector includes a carrier and one or more stand arms. The carrier is located on a side of the printer. The stand arms are pivotably attached to the carrier. The stand arms can rotated relative to the carrier from a non-carrying state to a lower state. When in the non-carrying state, the stand arm is oblique to the carrier and to a paper output direction of the printer. When in the lower state, the stand arm is pressed down by weight of accumulated printed papers thereon.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure generally relates to a paper collector for gathering printed papers of a printer.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Conventional printer includes a carrier for receiving printed papers. The carrier is always straight and is horizontal relative to an exit direction of a paper. When a plurality of papers is printed from the printer, an output paper is angled relative to the carrier, a front edge of the printed paper may curl when it is pushed against the carrier or against the accumulated papers on the carrier. The curled paper may affect the ability of the carrier to receive further printed papers. There is a need for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a paper collector in one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the paper collector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial assembly view of the paper collector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view of a printer and a paper collector in an original state in one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but an amount of papers have been printed from the printer.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 4, but the paper collector is in the lower state because of a large amount of printed papers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.”

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a paper collector for gathering printed papers of a printer 200 (shown in FIG. 4). The paper collector includes a carrier 10 and a stand member 20 attached to the carrier 10. The stand member 20 includes two parallel stand arms 30.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, in one embodiment, the carrier 10 defines an upper surface 17 and a lower surface 18. A pivot tab 12 is located on the lower surface 18 of the carrier 10. Two slots 15 are defined in the carrier 10 for receiving the two stand arms 30. The two slots 15 extend to an edge of the carrier 10. A length of each stand arm 30 is greater than the length of the slot 15.

Each stand arm 30 includes an arm portion 33 and a pivot portion 31. A deep hollow circular groove (annular groove 312) is defined in each pivot portion 31. The pivot portion 31 can pivot about the pivot tab 12 by means of a shaft 35. The annular groove 312 can receive an elastic member 50. The elastic member 50 may be a torsion coil spring.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, in assembly, the elastic member 50 and the shaft 35 are mounted to each stand arm 30. The two stand arms 30 are mounted to the pivot tabs 12 of the carrier 10. One end of the elastic member 50 abuts the pivot tab 12, and the other end of the elastic member 50 abuts the stand arm 30. In a non-carrying state, the stand arms 30 obliquely extend through the slots 15 and are angled upwards from the lower surface of the carrier 10, due to the elastic member 50.

Referring FIG. 4, in use, the paper collector is located on a side of paper output opening 210 of the printer 200. The printer 200 prints out a plurality of papers 100 from the paper output opening 210 along a direction F. The paper output opening 210 is elevated above the carrier 10. The carrier 10 is substantially parallel to the paper output direction F. In the non-carrying state, a distal end of the stand arms 30 extend towards the paper output opening 210 of the printer. The stand arms 30 are oblique to the carrier 10 and are also oblique to the paper output direction F of the printer in the non-carrying state.

The plurality of papers 100 is printed out from the paper output opening 210 one by one. A paper printed out from the paper output opening 210 naturally falls front end first. The front end of the paper contacts the oblique stand arms 30 at a small angle. The paper avoids being curled or folded by the stand arms 30. Referring to FIG. 5, an amount of papers is printed out, and these printed papers accumulate on the stand arms 30. The stand arms 30 are rotated down relative to the carrier 10 by the accumulating weight of the printed papers, little by little. The front end of the following papers also has a small angle relative to the topmost of the accumulating papers. Referring to FIG. 6, the stand arms 30 are finally depressed into the slots 15 by the weight of a full stack of accumulated papers.

In another embodiment, the paper collector includes a rotatable stand plate to support printed papers.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A paper collector for gathering printed papers of a printer comprising: a carrier located on a side of the printer; and a stand arm pivotably attached to the carrier; wherein the stand arm is capable of being rotated, relative to the carrier, from a non-carrying state to a lower state; when in the non-carrying state, the stand arm is oblique to the carrier and to a paper output direction of the printer, when in the lower state, the stand arm is pressed down by weight of accumulated printed papers thereon.
 2. The paper collector of claim 1, wherein a distal end of the stand arm extends towards a paper output opening of the printer in the non-carrying state.
 3. The paper collector of claim 1, wherein an elastic element is located between the stand arm and the carrier to dynamically adjust an oblique angle of the stand arm relative to the carrier, depending on weight of the accumulated printed papers.
 4. The paper collector of claim 3, wherein the elastic element is a coil spring.
 5. The paper collector of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, a pivot tab for the stand arm is located on the lower surface, and the upper surface and the stand arm carry the accumulated printed papers simultaneous.
 6. The paper collector of claim 5, wherein a slot is defined in the carrier, the stand arm extends through the slot.
 7. The paper collector of claim 6, wherein a length of the stand arm is greater than the length of the slot.
 8. The paper collector of claim 6, wherein the slot extends to an edge of the carrier.
 9. The paper collector of claim 1, wherein the carrier is substantially parallel to the paper output direction of the printer.
 10. The paper collector of claim 1, wherein the stand arm is straight.
 11. A paper collector for gathering printed papers of a printer comprising: a carrier located on a side of the printer; and a stand arm movable relative to the carrier; wherein the stand arm is capable of being pressed from an non-carrying state to a lower state, when in the non-carrying state, a distal end of the stand arm extends towards a paper output opening of the printer; when in the lower state, the stand arm is lowered by weight of accumulated printed papers.
 12. The paper collector of claim 11, wherein the stand arm is oblique to the carrier and is oblique to a paper output direction of the printer in the non-carrying state.
 13. The paper collector of claim 12, wherein the carrier is substantially parallel to the paper output direction of the printer.
 14. The paper collector of claim 11, wherein an elastic element is located between the stand arm and the carrier to dynamically adjust an oblique angle of the stand arm relative to the carrier, depending on weight of the accumulated printed papers.
 15. The paper collector of claim 14, wherein the elastic element is a coil spring.
 16. The paper collector of claim 11, wherein the carrier comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, a pivot tab for the stand arm is located on the lower surface, and the accumulated printed papers are located on the upper surface of the carrier and the stand arm simultaneous.
 17. The paper collector of claim 16, wherein a slot is defined in the carrier, the stand arm extends through the slot.
 18. The paper collector of claim 17, wherein a length of the stand arm is greater than the length of the slot.
 19. The paper collector of claim 17, wherein the slot extends to an edge of the carrier.
 20. The paper collector of claim 11, wherein the stand arm is straight. 